Hi all, I recently saw a cabled sweater that looked really nice, so I thought I'd give it a go...I read a couple tutorials on doing cabling, but all my attempts look horrible...I can't seem to get the tension right or something and it all looks so uneven...Anyone got any tips they can share?

Cabling doesn't really look even while you're doing it; just practice across about 3 repeats of the cable st pattern for about 6". When you cross the sts they get pulled so you need to use a loose tension or larger needles than normal so the gap (yes, there's going to be a gap) isn't so large. It looks messy on the row you cross the sts, but after a couple more rows it doesn't look so bad.

And I'm assuming this is crocheted cable you're talking about since it's in this area of the forum?

I find that post stitches in general (if that's what you're constructing your cables with) work better with certain kinds of yarn, and less well with others.

My favorite crocheted socks (which are total jazz) have a ribbed cuff that I work with various front-and-back approaches (loops, posts, etc.). I also make socks from a wide array of yarns for different uses. I'm always amazed by how the ribbing works better or less so depending on the type of yarn. Same with any high profile stitch.

The only tip I can offer is, don't panic. Keep going, don't be too hard on what you created. Give it a bunch of rows, try changing your tension...or just pause while you've still got not much to tear out and try making a pattern swatch till you pfutz your way to what you like. The swatch can be used in something later.

Cabling in crochet is like in knitting as you don't want a hole to be showing. I would suggest you do a gauge swatch or practice the cable stitch before you make the sweater. With practice the cable will come out very nice and you won't have holes.